Martial Arts Uniform

If a judo uniform resembles a karate uniform, what does a karate uniform resemble? A tae kwon do uniform. Called a tobok, a tae kwon do uniform resembles a karate uniform except the jacket doesn't open. It slips over the head and ha a V-neck collar usually in white or black.

Low-ranking aikido students usually wear judo- or karate-like gis. In some schools, black belt students substitute the pants for a wide, flowing black culotte-style called hak ma. These pants are designed to hide leg movement and give the illusion of floating. Unlike karate and judo, not all aikido schools utilize the colored-belt system.

In Chinese kung fu, the sam is the traditional uniform. It consists of a jacket and pants, often black. The jacket has a Nehrulike collar, which, like the cuffs, is sometimes whit and fastens from the neck below by five white ties consisting of a knot that slips into a loop. Kung fu students wear rubber soled shoes made from black canvas and lined with cotton Instead of stiff cotton belts, practitioners wear different colored silk or satin sashes.

A kendo practitioner wears a jacket called a keikogi. It issimilar to a judo jacket, but is worn tucked into the pant Rather than colored belts, students' grades are denoted by the color of the uniform. A novice wears a white lightweight cot­ton jacket, often with crisscross black stitching. High-ranking students wear a heavier or handmade quilted uniform, usual­ly black or navy blue. The bottom half of the uniform consists of the hakama pants worn by some advanced aikido students.

As kendo involves the use of swords (really a practice sword consisting of four pieces of bamboo tied together with a piece of leather that forms the handle), protective equipment is standard—as opposed to karate in which ifs worn only during sparring exercises. Hands and forearms are protected by long heavy gloves, and the chest is covered by a breastplate held in place by cords fastened around the shoulders. A heavy quilted waistband with a hip and groin protector is also worn. A steel head and face protector covers the head, throat, and shoulders.

Suiting up for kendo will probably set you back further than suiting up for any other style of martial arts. A chest protector, head and face protector, gloves, and the hip and groin protector can cost more than $400. The pants will be about $50, and the practice sword $25. A complete karate, judo, or tae kwon do uniform will run about $80. The sparring equipment also adds up, but is not required of new students.

Of course, a tai chi chaun uniform will set you back the least. Students who practice this art aren't required to wear formal uniforms or a colored belt. They can wear loose cloth­ing, and have the option of wearing soft shoes or no shoes.

kubotan